Writing instrument of the retractable type



P 3, 1966 w. G. CROWLEY WRITING INSTRUMENT OF THE RETRACTABLE TYPE INVENTOR. WILLIAM G. CROWLEY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,272,184 WRlTllNG INSTRUMENT OF THE RETRACTABLE TYPE William G. @rowley, Riverside, RJL, assignor, by mcsne assignments, to Barrows Industries, 111C. Providence, KL, a corporation of Rhode island Fitted Dec. 2, i963, Ser. No. 327,396 8 Claims. (Cl. 120-4203) The present invention relates to a writing instrument of the retractable type. More particularly, the present invention relates to a retractable writing instrument which includes a simple mechanism for retracting or expelling the writing end of a cartridge contained within the writing instrument.

The operating mechanism of the retractable writing instrument embodied herein is of that type that permits the expelling or propelling of the writing end of a cartridge within the instrument by the simple rotation of an operating cap. The component parts of the operating mechanism are easy to assemble or disassemble, as desired, and are further designed to be interfitted in a compact assembly within the barrel of the writing instrument. In the unique construction embodied herein an elongated tubular member is provided and is interfitted within the barrel of the instrument. The rearmost end of the tubular member is provided with a central bore therein that is noncircular in cross-sectional configuration. The noncircular bore in the tubular member receives the forward end of an adapter that is formed with a cross-sectional configuration that corresponds to that of the bore, The rearmost end of the adapter has helical threads externally formed thereon that are received within a tubular fitting that is formed with corresponding internal threads, and the rearmost end of the fitting is provided with a reduced shank, to which an end cap is press fitted. Since a writing cartridge is frictionally retained by the forward end of the adapter and projects through the tubular member for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, a rotating movement of the fitting by the end cap will cause a corresponding longitudinal movement of the adapter and cartridge connected thereto. The fitting is prevented from longitudinal movement since the shank thereof extends through an inturned flange formed on the rear end of the barrel and is secured directly to the operating cap, thus the fitting is positively held in position by the cap and the flange of the barrel and cannot be moved in a longitudinal direction. Accordingly, when the fitting is rotated by the operating cap, the adapter threadably joined thereto is moved in a longitudinal direction to expel the writing end of the cartridge externally of the point of the instrument or to repel the writing end within the point.

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a retractable writing instrument that is relatively simple in operation and that includes a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a retractable writing instrument wherein the writing end of the cartridge within the instrument is moved into and out of the writing position by the rotating movement of an operating cap.

Still another object is to provide a unique assembly for a retractable writing instrument that includes a retractor mechanism in the form of a fitting to which an adapter is threadably engaged, whereby rotating movement of the fitting will produce a corresponding longitudinal movement of the adapter.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

3,272,184 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the retractable writing instrument embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the writing instrument illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the component parts of the operating assembly are illustrated;

FIG. 3 is .a sectional view of the upper portion of the writing instrument with parts shown in elevation;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 55 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adapter to which the rear end of the writing cartridge is connected; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tubular fitting and washer that is mounted on the rear end thereof, the internal portion of the fitting being shown formed with an internal thread for receiving the threaded end of the adapter illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the draw-ing, the retractable writing instrument embodied in the present invention is generally indicated at 10 and includes a metallic barrel 12 that is comprised of a forward portion 14 and a rearward portion 16. The forward portion 14 of the barrel 12 has a tapered end 18 formed thereon that is adapted to accommodate a correspondingly tapered point 20 which, as will be described, is threadably interconnected to an inner tubular member. The rear portion 16 of the barrel has a conventional clip 22 secured thereto and is disconnectable from the forward portion 14 along the parting line 25. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an operating cap 24 having a tapered configuration defines the rearmost end of the writing instrument, and, as will be described, is adapted to be rotated for expelling or repelling the writing end of the cartridge contained within the barrel 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 5, a tubular member generally indicated at 26 is shown positioned within the barrel l2 and extends substantially the length thereof. The forward end of the tubular member 26 is tapered to be received within the tapered end 18 of the barrel l2 and is further formed with internal threads 28. As illustrated the tubular member 26 is formed of a plastic material, although other materials may be utilized as desired. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the tapered point 20 is provided with external threads on the rearmost end thereof that engage the threads 28 on the tubular barrel 26 to interconnect the point 20 to the forward end of the tubular barrel. As is further evident from FIG. 2, the point 29 is formed with a bore 3t} therein that communicates with the internal passage extending through the barrel 26. A reduced opening 32 is formed in the forwardmost end of the point 20 and communicates with the bore 30 through which the writing end 34 of a metallic cartridge 36 extends.

Communicating with the internal passage formed in the tubular member 26 at the rearmost end thereof is a bore 38 that is formed with a noncircular cross-sectional configuration. The noncircular bore 38 is slightly larger than the internal passage formed in the tubular member 26 with which it communicates and is adapted to receive a forward end 40 of a tubular adaptor generally indicated at 42. As shown in FIG. 6, the external portion of the forward end 40 of the tubular adaptor 42 is also formed in a noncircular configuration and conforms to the configuration of the bore 38 for sliding engagement therewith. Although the forward portion 40 of the adaptor 42 and the internal bore 38 of the tubular member 26 are shown having a hexagonal configuration, these parts may be constructed with other noncircular configurations without departing from the spirit of the invention. Formed interiorly of the forward portion 40 of the adaptor 42 is an opening 43 that receives the rear end of the cartridge 36 therein in frictional engagement, the cartridge 36 thus being longitudinally movable with the adaptor 42.

Joined to the noncircular portion 40 of the adaptor is a rear portion 44 that has helical threads 46 externally formed thereon; and as shown in FIG. 3, the adaptor 42 projects rearwardly of the tubular member 26 so as to expose the rear portion 44 of the adaptor and the helical threads 46 for-med thereon. Threadably interconnected to the rear portion 44 of the adaptor 42 is a fitting generally indicated at 48 that includes a forward portion 50 in which a bore 52 is for-med, the bore 52 being provided with internal threads 54 therein. Joined to the rearmost end of the fitting 48 is -a reduced shank 56 that projects through the rear end of the rearward portion 16 of the barrel 12. Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rearward portion 16 of the tubular barrel 12 is shown being formed with an inturned flange 60 that defines the opening through which the shank 56 extends. A washer 58 is mounted on the shank 56 and abuts the inner surface of the flange 60 and cooperates with the tapered operating cap 24 that is press-fitted on the shank 56 to prevent the fitting 48 from being moved in a longitudinal direction. The washer 58 is further designed to maintain a desired frictional drag during the turning movement of the end cap. It is apparent that the operating cap 24 is formed with an internal opening 62 for receiving the shank 56 in press-fitted relation therein.

In the assembly of the writing instrument, the tubular barrel 26 is fixed with respect to the adaptor 42 that is movable in a longitudinal direction. In order to frictionally retain the tubular member 26 in engagement with the barrel 12, projections 64 may be provided, as illustrated in FIG. 4, on the external surfaces of the tubular barrel 26. The projections 64 engage the inner surfaces of the portions 14 and 16 of the barrel and provide for tight fitting relation of the barrel 12 with respect to the tubular member 26.

In the operation of the device it will be assumed that the writing end 34 of the cartridge 36 is located interiorly of the point 20. The cartridge 36, as seen in FIG. 2, is frictionally retained within the opening 43 of the adaptor 42, and in this connection, the adaptor 42 may be formed of a plastic material that is deformable upon insertion of the metallic cartridge 36 therein. This provides for a firm fitting relation of the cartridge in the adaptor 42 and insures that longitudinal movement of the adaptor 42 will produce a corresponding longitudinal movement of the cartridge 36. As described above, the externally threaded rear end of the adaptor 42 engages the internally threaded forward end of the fitting 48 and the fitting 48 is interconnected to the operating cap 24 by the press fitting of the shank 56 into the opening 62 of the cap 24. Longitudinal movement of the fitting 48 is prevented by locating the washer 58 beneath the flange 60 and forcing the cap 24 on the shank 56 into close fitting relation with respect to the flange 60. Assuming again that the writing end 34 of the cartridge 36 is located interiorly of the point 20, the operating cap 24 is rotated clockwise so as to produce a corresponding rotating movement of the fitting 48. Since the adaptor 42 cannot rotate with the fitting 48 due to the interengagement of the noncircular forward part 40 in the noncircular bore 38 of the tubular member 26, the adaptor 42 will be caused to move in a longitudinal direction carrying the cartridge 36 therewith. The writing end of the cartridge 36 will thus be propelled outwardly of the point 20 through the bore 32. It is understood that a corresponding reverse rotating movement of the operating cap 24 will cause the cartridge 36 to be repelled or retracted within the writing instrument to withdraw the writing end 34 of the writing instrument 36 within the point 20.

As described herein, the writing instrument of the present invention is relatively simple in construction and includes parts that are uncomplicated and easy to assemble. The repelling and expelling action is carried out by a simple rotating movement of the operating cap 24, and the parts are firmly retained in the position to which they are moved after each operating step.

While there is shown and described therein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a Writing instrument of the retractable type, an elongated inner tubular member, a tubular barrel enveloping said tubular member and including a forward portion and a rearward portion separable from said forward portion, the interior of the rearward portion of said tubu lar member being formed with a noncircular cross section, a tubular adaptor the forward portion of which has an exterior surface that corresponds in cross section to the interior of the rearward portion of said tubular member and is received for longitudinal slidable movement therein, the exterior surface of the rearward portion of said adaptor having a helical thread formed thereon, an elongated writing cartridge extending through said tubular member, the rearmost end of said cartridge being frictionally received within said adaptor, the writing end of said cartridge extending beyond the forward ends of said tubular member and said tubular barrel, a tapered point enveloping the writing end of said cartridge and threadably engaging the forward end of said tubular member, a fitting threadably engaging the threaded portion of said adaptor and terminating at the rearmost end in a reduced shank, and an operating cap frictionally engaging said shank for producing rotary movement of said fitting, said adaptor being movable longitudinally in response to the rotary movement of the fitting to produce longitudinal movement of said cartridge, wherein the writing end of said cartridge is withdrawn within said tapered point or projected therebeyond as required.

2. In a retractable writing instrument, an elongated tubular member having an interiorly threaded forward portion and a rearward portion, the interior of which is noncircular in cross section, a tubular barrel enveloping said tubular member and including a forward portion and a rearward portion separable from said forward portion, a tubular adaptor having a forward portion the exterior of which has a cross section that corresponds to the noncircular cross section of the rearward portion of said tubular member and being received for longitudinal slidable movement therein, the exterior surface of the rear portion of said adaptor having a helical thread formed thereon, a writing cartridge extending through said tubular member, the rear portion of said cartridge being press fitted into said adaptor wherein said cartridge is movable in a longitudinal direction with said adaptor, the writing end of said cartridge extending beyond the forward ends of said tubular member and barrel, a point enveloping the writing end of said cartridge and threadably engaging the forward end of said tubular member, a fitting threadably engaging the threaded portion of said adaptor and terminating at the rear end thereof in a reduced shank, and an operating cap press fitted onto said shank and being rotatable to produce a corresponding rotary movement of said fitting, said adaptor thereby being moved longitudinally in response to the rotary movement of said fitting to produce longitudinal movement of said cartridge, wherein the writing end of said cartridge is projected from or retracted into said point as required.

3. In a retractable writing instrument, an elongated tubular member, a tubular barrel enveloping said tubular member and defining the exterior of said writing instrument, a tubular adaptor, the forward portion of which is slidably and non-rotatably received within the rear portion of said tubular member, the exterior surface of the rear portion of said adaptor having a helical thread formed thereon, a writing cartridge extending through said tubular member, the rear portion of said cartridge being press fitted into said adaptor wherein said cartridge is movable in a longitudinal direction with said adaptor with respect to said tubular member, the writing end of said cartridge extending beyond the forward ends of said tubular member and barrel, a point enveloping the writing end of said cartridge and engaging the forward end of said tubular member, a fitting threadably engaging the threaded portion of said adaptor and terminating at the rear end thereof in a reduced shank, and an operating cap secured to said shank and being rotatable to produce a corresponding rotary movement of said fitting, wherein said adaptor and cartridge connected thereto are moved longitudinally in response to the rotary movement of said fitting and the writing end of said cartridge is projected from or retracted into said point as required.

4. In a retractable writing instrument, an elongated tubular member, a tubular barrel enveloping said tubular member, a tubular adaptor, the forward portion of which is slidably and non-rotatably received within the rear portion of said tubular member, the rear portion of said adaptor having a helical thread formed threron, a Writing cartridge extending through said tubular member, the rear end of said cartridge being connected to said adaptor, wherein said cartridge is longitudinally movable with said adaptor and with respect to said tubular member, a point joined to the forward end of said tubular member and being adapted to envelope the writing end of said cartridge, a fitting threadably engaging the threaded portion of said adaptor, and an operating cap secured to said fitting and being rotatable to produce a corresponding rotary movement of said fitting, said adaptor and said cartridge connected thereto being movable in a longitudinal direction in response to the rotary movement of said fitting wherein the writing end of said cartridge is expelled from or retracted into said point as required.

5. In a retractable writing instrument as set forth in claim 4, the interior of the rear portion of said tubular member being formed with a noncircular cross section, the exterior surface of the forward portion of said adaptor being formed with a cross section corresponding to that of the interior of the rear portion of said tubular member and being slidably receivable therein, wherein said adaptor is slidable within said tubular member but is prevented from rotary movement therein.

6. In a retractable writing instrument as set forth in claim 4, said fitting having a reduced shank formed on the rear portion thereof, said shank being press fitted into said operating cap and being rotatable therewith.

7. In a retractable writing instrument as set forth in claim 6, said tubular barrel including a forward portion and a rearward portion separable from said forward portion, the rearmost end of said rearward portion being turned inwardly to define an annular flange, and a washer mounted on said fitting around said shank and engaging the inner surface of said annular flange, thereby restricting longitudinal movement of said fitting and insuring that rotation of said fitting by said cap will produce a corresponding longitudinal movement of said adapter and cartridge connected thereto.

8. In a writing instrument having a retractable writing end, an elongated tubular member, a tubular barrel enveloping said tubular member, an adaptor, the forward portion of which slidably and non-rotatably engages the rear portion of said tubular member, the rear portion of said adaptor having a helical thread formed thereon, a writing cartridge extending through said tubular member and being connected to said adaptor, wherein said cartridge is longitudinally movable with said adaptor and with respect to said tubular member, a point joined to the forward end of said tubular member, a fitting threadably engaging the threaded portion of said adaptor, and an operating cap secured to said fitting and being rotatable to produce a corresponding rotary movement of said fitting, said adaptor and said cartridge connected thereto being movable in a longitudinal direction in response to the rotary movement of said fitting, wherein the writing end of said cartridge is expelled from or retracted into said point as required.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 954,415 4/1910 Boman -42.03 2,693,171 11/1954 Lanoie 12O-42.03 2,753,844 7/1956 Boss 12042.03 2,778,337 1/ 1957 Lovejoy 12042.03

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

8. IN A WRITING INSTRUMENT HAVING A RETRACTABLE WRITING END, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER, A TUBULAR BARREL ENVELOPING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, AN ADAPTOR, THE FORWARD PORTION OF WHICH SLIDABLY AND NON-ROTATABLY ENGAGES THE REAR PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, THE REAR PORTION OF SAID ADAPTOR HAVING A HELICAL THREAD FORMED THEREON, A WRITING CARTRIDGE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND BEING CONNECTED TO SAID ADAPTOR, WHEREIN SAID CARTRIDGE IS LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE WITH SAID ADAPTOR AND WITH RESPECT TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, A POINT JOINED TO THE FORWARD END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, A FITTING THREADABLY ENGAGING THE THREADED PORTION OF SAID ADAPTOR, AND AN OPERATING CAP SECURED TO SAID FITTING AND BEING ROTATABLE TO PRODUCE A CORRESPONDING ROTARY MOVEMENT OF SAID FITTING, SAID ADAPTOR AND SAID CARTRIDGE CONNECTED THERETO BEING MOVABLE IN A LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION IN RESPONSE TO THE ROTARY MOVEMENT OF SAID FITTING, WHEREIN THE WRITING END OF SAID CARTRIDGE IS EXPELLED FROM OR RETRACTED INTO SAID POINT AS REQUIRED. 